Are the Golden State Warrors Asian America's team?

Fans gather outside Oracle Arena prior to Game One of the 2017 NBA Championship series.

WATCHING the Golden State Warriors play against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the finals of the 2017 NBA playoffs, you couldn't help but notice the makeup of the crowd in Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif.

"The Asian/American population is very important to us," said Chip Bowers, the Golden State Warriors' chief marketing officer. "We're the Bay Area's NBA team, and we're very bullish on building a stronger relationship."

From its heritage nights for Chinese, Filipinos, Japanese, Pacific Islanders, to its aggressive social media strategy to the yearly visits to Asia during the off-season, the Warriors' marketing plan seems to be working.

Basketball is the most popular sport in Asia and Asian immigrants have carried their basketball fanaticism with them. 

The San Francisco Bay Area is home to over 1.6 million Asian American residents, according to the 2010 Census numbers, The entire state of Ohio has only 204,000 AAPI residents.

The Warriors' newest commercial included these Asian/Americans:

Since this is the third year the Warriors are meeting the Cavaliers in the finals, I don't have a lot to add to this topic, but for new readers, here are some links you might be interested in reading.

RELATED:

• The Warriors' Asian connection
• Warriors star Stef Curry leaves his mark on Asia
•  Curry's barber is a Fiiipino/American 
• Filipinos make up a third of the Warriors' Facebook fans
•  The Warriors secret weapon is a 10-year old Filipina American
•  NBA celebrates Chinese New Year with a special commercial
• Happy Chinese New Year 

Go, Warriors!

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

NBA FINALS: Warriors' secret weapon is 10-year old Filipino American

10-year-old Nayah Damasen sang the national anthem in Game 1
of the NBA championship series.

NAYAH DAMASEN should sing every Golden State Warrior game. 

The 10-year-old Filipina American is the Dub's good luck charm. They've won every game when she sang the Star Spangled Banner to open the game - the biggest stage in her young life with the championship on the line in front of 20,000 crazy fans and in front of a national audience. 

The good-luck string continues as the Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, 108-100 in overtime.

“I feel so honored and blessed to be here,” Nayah said before Game 1, hours before the sold-out game. “I wouldn’t say that I’m a charm. But music can touch people’s hearts.”

RELATED: The Warriors Asian connection

Nayah began singing for the Warriors games when she was only 5-years old and the team has won every time ... except once; that was against the San Antonio Spurs during the regular season.

A resident of nearby San Jose, she want to pursue and acting and singing career. But her career plans will have to wait until after the championship best-of-seven series is over. I expect we'll see and hear Nayah again before its over.